Death and Disability
Death and Disability
Spring 1864–Fall 1864
This chapter discusses the environmental effects of death, and what happens when a corpse becomes part of the natural environment. Bodies decomposed rapidly, producing an unbearable stench. It led both armies to develop techniques for burial, embalming, and transportation of the dead to prevent sickness. The Overland Campaign—especially the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Crater—and its extraordinary number of casualties, is the primary military focus. The chapter also discusses the advancements in medical care to treat wounded soldiers. Large numbers of disabled men had environmental effects as well, such as fewer acres of farmland due to the loss of labor, and expensive government policies to provide pensions for the disabled after the war.
Keywords: death, amputation, wound, embalming, Overland campaign, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, medical care
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